NCERT Solutions Class 8 Social Science Civics Chapter 9 - Public Facilities

Water is a vital amenity, hence there are very few occurrences of privatized water supply around the world. A state's water supply is a public service that every government must provide to all of its residents. Water prices surged when water supply was placed in the hands of private enterprises, making it expensive for the majority. In places like Bolivia, this has led to riots, protests, and violent demonstrations. As a result, it has been decided that water supply services should be handled by the government.

In Chennai, not everyone has access to or can afford water. The degree of money one makes in the city is proportional to the availability of a decent, consistent water supply. On average, municipal supply covers only approximately half of the needs of the city's residents. In places like Anna Nagar, senior government officials can arrange for a complete water tanker to be sent to them. Most areas, such as Mylapore, only get water once every two days. People in Madipakkam buy bottled water for drinking, but the situation in slums is the worst. In the slums, a single tap provides water to over thirty families for less than an hour each day. Apart from the availability of water, only the wealthy can purchase bottled water and water purifiers and so have access to "safe" drinking water. Drinking water that is "sufficient and safe" is denied to the impoverished.

It is essential that the government ensures that citizens of the city have access to "adequate and safe" drinking water in order to live a good life.

The sale of water by farmers to water dealers in Chennai has a variety of effects on the local population:

• The water is being taken away for agricultural irrigation. As a result, the scarcity of water for irrigation has an impact on agriculture.

• The communities will use this water for common supply and drinking.

• As a result of extensive water exploitation, ground water levels in certain places have plummeted.

Yes, local residents can protest such severe exploitation of ground water since it is a public resource or a gift from nature to which everyone has an equal right, and thus no one can sell or take it solely.

Poor farmers are the ones who suffer the most from the usage of ground water, thus they have a strong voice in protesting such abuse.

In this sense, the government must play a critical role in determining an acceptable alternative. Many public services, like access to safe drinking water, are recognised as part of the Right to Life in our Constitution. As a result, the government must ensure that these rights are safeguarded in order for everyone to live a good life. The government can prohibit private corporations from selling water and find effective ways to offer water to the general public at a low cost. It can also preserve water by employing techniques such as "rainwater harvesting."

The services provided by these private hospitals and institutions are prohibitively expensive for the poor and even many middle-class people. The infrastructure and service quality provided by these hospitals and institutions are unquestionably superior. Cities have a higher concentration of wealthy and ambitious people who can afford the costs than towns or rural locations. This is why private hospitals and schools are typically found in major cities rather than small towns or rural areas.

The facilities and infrastructure of government-run educational institutions are inadequate. Private educational institutions have greater facilities and infrastructure, but often charge exorbitant tuition that only the wealthy can afford. As a result, only the wealthy will have access to high-quality education. The weaker parts of society are deprived of quality education if government-run educational institutions are not up to mark. As a result of this discrepancy, only the wealthy will benefit from good education, while the poor will be denied it. This will exacerbate the economic and social divide between the rich and the poor. As a result, the country's overall progress will be harmed.